Cooper penalty sends Kansas City through as Utah claim first playoff win

Kansas City Current and Utah Royals advanced to the National Women's Soccer League playoff semi-finals with 1-0 victories over Angel City and San Diego Wave respectively, according to The Guardian. Michelle Cooper settled Kansas City's quarter-final with a penalty in extra time, while Kiana Palacios scored the goal that gave seventh-seeded Utah an upset win over second-seeded San Diego.

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Fourth-seeded Kansas City had been the only NWSL side to complete the regular season without a home defeat and carried that record into the playoffs. Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson made five saves during regulation to keep the teams level. The breakthrough followed an Izzy Rodriguez corner four minutes into extra time, when Current defender Kayla Sharples went down near the goal line after contact with Anderson and Ary Borges.

Cooper converted the resulting penalty to eliminate fifth-seeded Angel City. The Guardian reported that the teams committed 25 fouls between them. Angel City received three yellow cards in regulation, for Sveindís Jónsdóttir, Borges and Maiara Niehues, while Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga was booked in the 114th minute. The Current's next opponent will be either top-seeded Gotham FC or eighth-seeded Seattle Reign FC.

Utah's victory was the club's first in the playoffs and ended a four-match winless run. Palacios scored in the 30th minute after receiving a low cross from Cloé Lacasse, taking a touch before finishing. It was the first time the Royals had held a lead against San Diego in any competition this season, and they protected that advantage through the remainder of the match.

Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made four saves and recorded her sixth clean sheet of the season. San Diego finished with 62% possession and led the shot count 16-8, but could not find an equaliser. Both sides were without midfielders through injury: Kimmi Ascanio was unavailable for the Wave with a thigh problem, while Utah's Mina Tanaka was ruled out after initially being listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

San Diego had entered the quarter-final unbeaten in seven matches, but the defeat extended their run of playoff losses to four. Utah will now travel for a semi-final against either third-seeded Washington Spirit or sixth-seeded Portland Thorns. The two 1-0 results therefore sent Kansas City through from the higher-seeded position while Utah progressed despite facing a team seeded five places above them.